Snowballing kids face asbos in Swansea
ARE Swansea's snowball kids on the slippery slope towards being hit with Asbos?
Youngsters in Bonymaen enjoying time off school have been warned against Aggressive Snow Ball Offences which could land them with an Anti Social Behaviour Order.
Four youths in Bonymaen were threatened with Asbos for ambushing residents and passing vehicles with some aggressive snowballing.
It seems that police have taken a dim view towards the time honoured tradition between children in the cold weather.
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Bonymaen support officer James O'Neale said: "While on patrol in the main problem areas of Bonymaen, myself and the Local Neighbourhood Police Team had a few calls regarding anti-social behaviour.
"Local youths were being very loud and were throwing snow balls at vehicles and pedestrians passing by."
He added: "We appropriately advised and stopped certain groups of youths that we came across regarding their behaviour and moved them on.
"Only a small group continued to cause problems and damage in the area and with the help of residents working with us, we managed to get this group of youths identified."
Once officers had their details four culprits were spoken to and appropriately advised, moved out of the area and issued with anti-social behaviour forms.
"They were warned on many occasions previously, but continued to cause problems to local residents in the area," the support officer added.
But local councillors say its a case of the minority spoiling fun in the snow for well-behaved kids.
Bonymaen councillor Mair Gibbs said problems with anti-social behaviour in Bonymaen had disappeared in recent months and has blamed the recent flurry on a small group of troublemakers.
"The kids have been having a great time, sledging and making snowmen and so they should," she said.
"But there is a minority spoiling it for everyone.
"The snow is quite hard now and it can be dangerous if someone was hit."
She added: "It is pleasing to see the police reacting so quickly to nip this in the bid.
The Bonymaen neighbourhood policing team say calls taken about anti-social behaviour have gone through the roof since schools were closed due to bad weather.
"We will continue to carry out high visibility patrols in and around the area.
"And we will continue to work closely with residents to stay on top of problem youths during the cold spell," James O'Neale said.
Comments
by Deb, Eastside
Monday, January 11 2010, 1:17PM
“It's snow joke you know.”
by Scott, Sketty
Monday, January 11 2010, 11:41AM
“This reminds me of a "fun" couple of weeks I had last year. I was in Singleton Park, enjoying the snow with friends, the same as everyone, when about 15 boys, aged between 13/14 and 16/17 ran over to us. I thought this was all fun and games, but one of them ran literally right up to me, and threw a block of ice in my eye point blank. My eye went black more or less straight away, and while I was giving this kid a rollocking his "friends" continued to throw snow at us, and through luck or persistence, managed to hit me in the eye another few times. To say I went a bit mad understates it. However...
These kids KNEW I could not do anything. I am only 24, but if i'd have done that when I was 14, I'd have had a slap, and do you know why? Because I deserved it.
I can't be bothered to go into it, but I saw this group of "youths" a few times after this, and every time they were exactly the same. The best one was where they all got on the same bus as me in Singleton Hospital to Mumbles, and proceeded to mock a disabled lady who had speech problems, mimicking and mocking her speech. Of course, when I called them on it, they denied it and got arsey, but once again, they know they can;t be touched.
If I get hit by ice again, or I see some boys misbehaving like that (it was NOT for fun, they were being nasty little idiots ruining the day for everyone), I will not just stand idly by. Kids need to learn respect, and if they aren't getting that at home, other people need to do it.”
by John Boy Jones, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Monday, January 11 2010, 2:27AM
“Snow should be banned!”
by Mingo, Former Yugoslav Republic Of the Macedonia
Sunday, January 10 2010, 6:38PM
“right enn, ive add enuff of you goody two shoes kents, if i want to lob a snowball at my mate who is standing by your car i will, and if i miss and hits your car i will run the eff away. so divvent start on me. i am the life and soul of swansea, this septic isle, this hallowed stone, this one , this mushland.
assa f**** amma!!”
by Anon, Swansea
Sunday, January 10 2010, 5:51PM
“I totally agree with Paul Jones, swansea on this one. Intimidation snowballing is not acceptable. Just cos some of you may enjoy snowballs thrown at you doesn't mean to say every one else should too and just accept it just because its just "snow". Throwing snow or anything else at a moving car is very dangerous, can cause the driver to swerve and on the icey roads at the moment even more so dangerous. There is a huge difference between harmless fun and dangerous and intimidation fun and if some of you can't tell the difference, then obviously either you or a member of your family are the guilty ones. Picking up snow can include picking up stone mixed in or anything else. I should know, a friend had glass in a snow ball thrown at her face which cut her. Obviously the person who threw it didn't realise glass was in the snow but it goes to show snowballing can be dangerous! So if you want to enjoy the snow, throw it at your own friends and family and their properties, leave other people you don't know alone!”
by Paul Jones, Swansea
Sunday, January 10 2010, 2:58PM
“Enjoying the snow with snowball fights is fine, gangs of kids pelting cars and strangers with snoballs is not, end of. Its dangerous and aggresive, if anyone thinks differently they are morons. I saw a car in front of me pelted by a gang of so called kids enjoying themselves, the drivers window was cracked. The driver got out to confront the kids, who started to push him and throw more snowballs from 6 feet away. So morons who find this acceptable, how sad and out of touch you really are.”
by richie, swansea
Sunday, January 10 2010, 1:42PM
“ohhhhh terrorist snowballs, for god's sake people, have a word with yourselves. I have had snowball thrown at me and my house. big deal IT'S SNOW!!!!!!!”
by bonymaen resident, bonymaen
Sunday, January 10 2010, 10:16AM
“I live in Bonymaen and there is a world of difference between snowball fights between kids (I've joined in plenty of those over the last few days) and having your house windows/car/children pummelled with giant lumps of ice by aggressive teenagers who never know when to back off. The police and PCSO's in Bonymaen do a great job, and a thankless one, keeping an eye out for problems and keeping the local troublemakers in check.
It's a shame the police don't have the powers to force the troublemakers to put their energy into something useful such as helping out the more vulnerable members of their community with path clearing and running errands.”
by morning neighbour!, take that! (snowball in your face)
Sunday, January 10 2010, 9:57AM
“BILL and ANNE, just read your comments and you are BOTH talking CRAP! stop sponging of the state and get FULL-TIME JOBS, like the rest of us. That way you can both see the REAL WORLD and not the ones in your head, where everything is rosy and everyone lives in harmony!”
by asking for touble, reality is dangerous
Sunday, January 10 2010, 9:48AM
“whilst out delivering to a chemist i got ambushed by 4 teens with snowballs, i laughed and shouted out "WELL DONE" but that egged them on and the pelting became more aggressive, one lad came within 6foot to launch his snowball. DO YOU PEOPLE CALL THAT FUN! if kids want to have snowball fights then go to a park, there's plenty around. What i don't understand is that schools close for health and safety reasons yet kids, throw snowballs at strangers and moving cars and people find this acceptable, THIS IS NOT, IT'S BLOODY DANGEROUS. To alll those people who disagree, either you're retired or don't work, cos from the comments made, you don't go out much and therefor need to have a reality check!”